Wilson’s thoughts on Sharks’ lack of scoring, energy conservation at practice — and more

So what does general manager Doug Wilson think of his team these days?

We got a chance to ask him today and a quick, online version of the interview was posted a short while ago at http://www.mercurynews.com/sharks/ci_22699622/san-jose-sharks-general-manager-says-team-needs and touted by @PollakOnSharks, so I’m hoping a few of you are already up to date.

I won’t repeat everything here, but the take-away is that Wilson and coach Todd McLellan are on the same page, though Wilson came up with the catchier phrasing:

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“We’ve become a pass-first team in a shoot-first league,” he said. “Our guys have to change that.”

The GM talked about a lot more than that, but I’ll do my part to drive traffic to the web site and not go into everything here.

But, after the usual advisory that he wasn’t making excuses, Wilson did disclose that Ryane Clowe has been playing the “a couple of injuries” that weren’t serious enough to sideline him, but did add to his frustrations on the ice.

And you got the idea that until both Clowe and Brent Burns were healthy, Wilson wasn’t ready to pull the trigger on any trades, let alone push any panic buttons.

Just as a teaser, I will include the story’s final quote here, too, as Wilson talked about his thoughts on the trade process:

“Every team goes through the same process as us. Is this a team that’s in position to win and do you mortgage some of your future to get them to that point? Are they a team that needs to play better to let you know that they are that type of team? Are they a team that’s not at that point and should the team be refreshed and reset? Those are all appropriate questions that performance and adjustment will dictate. We’re in a phase of seeing where we are.”

*****Today’s Sharks practice may have looked like an optional as only about two-thirds of the players were on the ice.

But nobody had an option. Some players were told to skate, others were told to work out, but stay off the ice.

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Call it an exercise in energy management.

“We talked after the game last night that the energy level wasn’t real good,” McLellan said. “Some guys play a lot of minutes, some guys have played since September. I’m concerned about their energy level.

“Giving them some time right now, a half hour off of practice time, just to rest mentally and physically, we’re going to try that,” he continued. “I don’t know if that’s the answer, but we’re going to try something.”

Those who haven’t been getting as many minute worked skill drills that focused on offense.

“We’ll blend it all back together for tomorrow,” McLellan said.

He was asked to expand on the lack of mental energy.

“I feel a little sense of frustration – squeezing it, not making the plays we normally make. We saw a breakaway and two 2-on-1s yesterday and we didn’t get a shot on goal,” McLellan said, adding that normally a team could generate as many as five shots on those three opportunities.

“Because we’re starving for offense right now, it’s magnified and rightly so. The 2-on-1s, I believe that both of the puck carriers were thinking pass first. As the lanes got closed off, you get deeper and deeper and you run out of real estate and you force it.

“But,” the coach continued, “they’re brilliant players. They’ve played for 1,000 games and scored points and have silver sticks hanging on their walls because they’re such good players. We can’t dictate every moment of every game.

Which leaves Wingels and Havlat with another maintenance day and Burns on the IR. Unless I’ve forgotten someone. Which I’m sure I’ll hear about in the comment section.

(Which reminds me. Way too many lines crossed down there in the last 24 hours. If the I’ve mastered the technology, a few voices have been silenced. They earned the muzzling, believe me. Tempted on a few others, but decided to simply excise the posting rather than take the next step.)

****So how does McLellan think Gomez is doing with his shot at a second-line role?

“I think Gomer’s been the best in 4-on-4 situations where he has some ice and can make some plays,” McLellan said, noting that while Gomez (0 goals, 2 assists) also has been a good presence in the room, “at the end of the day we need some production from everybody.”

****And the coach’s thoughts on Matt Irwin’s first game after returning from Worcester?

“Every tme he plays, he looks like he fits in and belongs here — plays with total confidence, plays on his toes rather than his heels. Has a tremendous shot and gets it through. We’re struggling big-time getting our point shots through . . . and that’s one area where matty Irwin is pretty good.”

David Pollak

David Pollak has been following the NHL forever and at the Mercury News as an editor or reporter since 1987. For almost a decade he wrote about the Sharks as the paper's Fan in the Stands before joining the sports department in 2001. He became the Sharks beat writer before the 2007-08 season and began this blog at that time. You can also follow him on Twitter at @PollakOnSharks.

“Refreshed and reset”. Yes please! Looks like we will be sellers at the trade deadline if the current trend continues with major decisions and changes happening in the offseason. With all the NTCs and NMCs, it will take time to shuffle the desk chairs. Major changes are needed. The time has passed for this group.

Phil, now I feel horrible. I was all over the “where’s Demers?” but I forgot about Vlasic!

David Pollak

Phil,

I tried to sneak Demers in there. And pretty sure I did see Vlasic on the ice so let’s play a little loose and fast and put him out there, too.

For sure he wasn’t on the official list I glimpsed of players told not to skate.

David

Phil

Thanks, DP. I probably wouldn’t have said anything if you hadn’t tossed the gauntlet down. ; )

And petshark: Don’t feel bad. It took me a few minutes to realize who the missing players were.

MW

Sharks look like they have a “hit” with Irwin. Between him, Braun and Demers the past few years, it looks like the Sharks are doing a good job bringing up new D-men and mixing them in with the veterans.

Perhaps one of the vets or one of the younger guys is expendable for offense?

PlayingD

Thanks for the cleanup, DP.

We’ll see if the move to rest some players has the desired effect.

Renoshark

Hockey nut:

I like how you included Coyle, Sgarbossa and Phillips as “proven scorers” on your top 3 lines post from the previous thread. How exactly did you come to that conclusion?

Gigantes15

my Gosh this team needs to shoot the puck, it’s really mind boggling that so much high paid talent that has scored before has went a month in such a dry spell.

Gigantes15

Coyle scored a goal last month that would put him on the Sharks top line

Renoshark

If one career goal isn’t “proven scorer” material then I don’t know what is. 😉

Deltron3030

There seems to be a lot of excuses and lack of accountability from Doug on the roster. Kind of ironic that he always says they don’t give excuses and they hold themselves accountable. Basically blaming the players, when maybe he should start blaming himself for some bad deals.

Hopefully he doesn’t trade the 1st pick again this year,

Suck for Seth!!!

OJ

Suck For Seth, Drown for Drouin. This team is in line for a lottery pick at the upcoming draft. And they clearly need a shot of young good talent into their slim prospect pool. Imagine getting a stud defenseman like Seth Jones or a young playmaker like Johnathan Drouin. I’m not buying into the BS that Wilson feeds the local media about his team. They flat out suck. It showed at the end of last season and is now fully exposed. I hope Wilson learns that you can not trade away 1st and 2nd round draft picks in a draft and develop league, just to patch up his slow and aging team. I’m starting to feel that Wilson is losing his edge. He is holding onto a lost hope and should just accept defeat and rebuild. It will not take very long to rebuild considering the pieces already in play (vlasic, couture, pavelski, burns,niemi). The Sharks need to strip down starting with Clowe at the trade deadline, Boyle in the offseason and one of Thornton or Marleau to go along with Boyle.

Renoshark

Thornton and Marleau aren’t going anywhere unless they agree to leave, which they won’t. I can see Boyle and Murray getting dealt. NYR might try and deal for Boyle this season. This team is beyond a few superficial trade fixes. Time to get younger, quicker and restock the farm system. Problem is DW is the win now type of GM, not a build for the future type of GM.

Danbo

I think the flu has been a big factor early on for this team. Hopefully everybody is getting over it. Now the issue is confidence. The last two games showed a lot of hard work by almost everyone. Somebody though has to work with poor Havlat as he jusst doesn’t have a clue on what he is supposed to do out there. His passes are going nowhere and he just seems so unsure of himself. He is a great player and needs some consistency to get in the groove. And Please, Please, Please – no more from Boyle, Murray or Thornton passing the puck directly to the opposition. I know that it is the price you pay for the miracle plays, but I have seen way to much of it lately. Great column as always DP. Go Sharks!

Wonderogre

(to someone above) If DW trades Irwin I will have lost all hope, unless the return is unprecedented. He’s easily the most promising offensive d-man we’ve brought up in a long time, even counting Demers, Braun, and possibly Carle (I think his skillset is superior, but I’m not making any predictions until he plays a few more games, heh, at least).

Wonderogre

The flu has been a big factor for a lot of teams. Get over it.

Wonderogre

Why trade Boyle? If you’re serious about rebuilding, he’s hitting an age where he’s not liable to get a return that outweighs his usefulness for the development of your young defensive core. And if you’re rebuilding and getting younger, his remaining salary years shouldn’t be a problem.

MLBSF1

Boy oh boy do the excuses ever end?

So I’m supposed to believe that if Clowe and Burns were healthy (rolls eyes), that the Sharks would be good?

Please.

I’m only surprised Wilson isn’t blaming the sequester, and the transition of the Pope for the Sharks’ woes as well.

So what are you going to do Doug? You say the Sharks pass too much, and yet you have a captain who says he is a passer and isn’t going to change.

What a mess.

Wonderogre

Nominate a new captain. I suggest Gomez. Heh.

Beer League Rocks

Renoshark, If you just skip hockeynuts comments it saves a lot of time. He seems to be trying to take over with all his comments all day and night, and says others must not have jobs with how often they are commenting.

NoCupWithDW

Want an example of how to execute a 2 on 1? Check out the OT winner from Seabrook against CBJ. Chi 4-3 in OT.

Chi played Thursday night vs Stl while CBJ watched, and was losing 2-1 tonight. NO QUIT in Chi, they fought back to take the lead 3-2, then won in OT. that is a team who will not quit.

Only mention it, in case anyone wants to see how a real hockey team reacts when they are losing a game.

Hotel Calif.

yes, when they ask someone to take responsibility for the Sharks problems, Wilson says “I pass”

Uncle Slavko

Unfortunately, I have to agree with Reno once again, that DW is a win now GM…not much on the farm and the Sharks are just getting older. However, while I agree with NoCup’s comment on Chicago, remember when they sucked and had about five years of first round drafts (like the Oilers have more recently) and loaded up on top prospects? The number one place the Sharks need to improve, in my opinion, is in drafting and maintaining some quality players. Love Irwin and Braun, and Staylock is good too, but after that?

Sather

the Rangers had a scout watching the Red Wings and Sharks last night.

Other teams with scouts at the game were St. Louis, Philly, Isles, Edmonton, Pittsburgh, Vancouver, Phoenix and the Bruins had two.

The Rangers previously had someone at games for the Wings and the Sharks.

The Rangers acquired Brandon Mashinter from the Sharks earlier this year.

I would guess that the Rangers are interested in Boyle and Demers. One of them will eventually end up in a Ranger uni

Sather

More likely Demers because the Rangers would have trouble fitting Boyle under the cap

Oh Canada

Here is Brian Burke on a rant in the Toronto Star——

As a GM, if you pay attention to what the sports writers write, you’re a fool,” he said. “The sports page, when you are losing, has value only if you own a puppy or a parakeet.”

The denizens of broadcast and digital media will be happy to know they were not immune from Burke’s territorial spreadings.

“The worst thing that ever happened to sports was talk radio,” Burke said. “And the internet is talk radio on steroids with lower IQs.”

Burke said he was referring to Sharks supporters. No, I just threw that in.

Renoshark

Uncle Slavko @ 24:

Unfortunately, you have to agree with Reno? You say that like it’s a bad thing. 😉

PlasticPuck14

Having witnessed the “game” last night against Detroit there are some seriously delusional people in the front office. The played with zero tenacity and zero intensity. That made for a very frustrating and irritating game. It was like Ground Hog Day…over and over again BUT in SLOW MOTION. Detroit wasn’t playing much better but they walked away with the win. We just lost again.

Sucks

Phil

It’s amazing that in a sport where it’s understood that defense wins championships, people complain about the game last night. How many shots did Datsyuk — widely considered to be one of the most gifted players in the NHL — get last night?

0.

Last night was an excellent tight checking game. The only problem with this group is getting the puck into the net.

Considering the breakouts we were getting last night, that part of the game is clearly improving.

Steve

Cheechoo!!!

MLBSF1

Devin Setoguchi (4)

—–

I wonder if Minnesota would give us Seto back for Clowe.

smh

beeohzee

(New to WTC) (MLBSF1 #32) I’d take Setoguchi back in a heartbeat. I don’t know if we’d get him for just Clowe. On the one hand, Seto has more speed, more goal-scoring potential. On the other hand, Clowe brings things Seto does not (like physical play, relatively speaking). On the third hand (!), Seto is signed longer term (through 2014 I think) while Clowe will be a free agent. On yet one more hand (who’s counting), Seto is not living up to his contract based on current production. All things considered, I think Minnesota would want more than just Clowe considering Seto’s upside and Clowe’s impending free agency. I think Seto would be a good fit for the Sharks — I do not know if Clowe would be a good fit for the Wild.

Phil

Setoguchi? Seriously? The amazingly inconsistent Mr. Setoguchi? You guys already complain about Marleau and Seto’s never even approached Marleau’s totals on a year!

Thanks, I’d rather have Clowe. He plays well with Cooch. He shoots more than anyone else on the Sharks — even including the two game suspension. He’s one of the few players who will drop the gloves. He can score — even if he hasn’t this year. He works the puck on the boards better than almost anyone in teal. He calls the team out when they aren’t skating well.

If anyone on this team bleeds teal, it’s him.

And yeah, he’s a UFA. With the hometown discount and his likely low totals this year, he’ll be a cheap pickup. I’d rather have him than Burish or Galliardi for sure.

Dave Dev

The Setoguchi that’s on pace for a sub-20 goal season?

MW

I’d love to have Seto back and I’m sure he’d much prefer to be back in SJ.

Phil is usually spot on, but Seto actually was pretty consistent the last three years with 35,41 and 36 pts (last one in Minny) and averaging 20ish goals during that time. Nothing on the level of 2009, but the team was on another planet that year. The next 3 seasons were perfectly acceptable hockey and boy could we use those 20 or so goals (10 in the lockout).

Of course we’re operating in mythical happy land (I believe rainbows and unicorns were referenced by an unknown poster on Friday) where salary cap issues don’t exist and Minnesota would just GIVE Seto back without removing an equally important player (Clowe? Demers? etc etc) from the lineup.

Martin Brody

Yahoo Sports has coach Todd McLellan’s picture on the front page of Bench troubles. That’s not very nice. The Sharks are in the same spot in the standings as we were at the end of last season. Perhaps our expectations shouldn’t be too high with this team. I think TMac and DW are doing a good job. However, the coach is only as good as the players who are playing for him. We should try to discover more diamonds in the rough at the June amatuer drafts and do a better job with attracting free agents. I don’t think firing the head coach or GM is the answer. In this crazy shortened NHL season, injuries could play such a key part in any team’s success. We need to have more patience.

NoCupWithDW

Slavko,

exactly what I have been saying for 5 years. Stop giving away up and coming players(Demers/Braun/Irwin) to a team like the Rangers for a rental player who will realize the travel sucks here on the left coast, and will return to the East coast at first chance.

DW actually believes the marketing the Sharks have been spewing for years. And here is the really sad part, the Sharks are a very good drafting team. Look around the league and you see many a player that was drafted by the sharks playing integral roles on other teams. Not necessarily top line roles, but important roles. Josh Georges, Nbr 1 D man for Montreal. Another example, the nbr 1 pick we traded away, which turned out to be David Perron, pretty good 1st line player for Stl, for Billy Guerin which helped us become an 8th seed 1 year. Guerin promptly left to go back to Stl. Or the 1st round pick we traded away for Campbell, which ultimately went to Anaheim who used it to pick Kyle Palmieri, who is on his way to becoming a solid 2nd line winger. It is not guaranteed DW would have picked these players, but the Sharks have ZERO to show either in terms of a cup or players for what has been given up.

Let’s not even talk about the trades the last 2 years for oft injured and over paid Dman Brent Burns, or the fabulous TJ Galiardi for 1 player and 2 prospects.

NoCupWithDW

MB,

“The Sharks are in the same spot in the standings as we were at the end of last season”

The 12th place Oilers are 1 win away from tying the Sharks for 7th place. Another words, the Sharsk can go from 7th to 12th in the next 4 days. Do we continue to have patience?

NoCupWithDW

check out the woman’s face behind Tmac, priceless. I think it says everything we need to know about the Sharks.

Can an owner trade a manager and pro scouting director? No? DW and Ferguson need to go. One can’t pull the trigger on a trade and the other can’t tell the difference between “has an upside” and “on the way out”.

hondr

Good for whack-a-mole. At least he’s finally confronting his sacred cow, Slow Joe. That’s progress. Finally. A trade threat might be the best idea with that slug, however.

And Larry Rob is confronting one of the other sacred cows, Boyle, and forcing him to play a little tighter. That’s good. I like Boyle, but he can’t be an out of control idiot, as he was for much of last season. The historical chinese fire drill the Sharkys do in their own end had to stop, at some point. Larry Rob and Stuart can only do so much. Boyle has to buy in.

Burns on the other hand is all of a sacred cow, an out of control idiot and irredeemable… a total disaster of an acquisition and longterm signing. They play better without him, as we clearly see. If whack-a-mole is waiting for that guy as his savior, the Sharkys are doomed.

Stevo

Bring’emBack #26,

I agree.

Bill

Strip Thornton of his captaincy. He doesn’t deserve to where the C on his sweater.

The Sharks management have painted themselves in a corner with the NMC contracts they have structured for key players. It will limit the amount of movement they can make to rejigger this team. Other teams know that the Sharks are a mess and would part with players at a costly price or unload their own problem children.

Snow Shovel

DP – Most of us here will forever bless you for the permanent silencing. Now, if only something could be done about the multiple screen names of some posters…

Wonderogre

Oh, ME, I’m with Phil on this. Seto’s output since 09 has been consistent, but nevertheless underwhelming, and it has occurred while playing top-6 minutes. Doesn’t exactly strike me as the type of offensive shot in the arm this team needs, even in magic unicorn land. Plus, Setoguchi is at his best when playing physically, but he’s too fragile to keep that up consistently.

Wonderogre

MW, not ME. Auocorrect…

Wonderogre

Wow, nice job, autocorrect. You’re about as consistent as Seto.

JB

Why do benches get warm but seats get hot?

ZEKE

I think I’ve got lines I would be happy with based on what I’ve seen so far this year. Starting from the bottom up

4th line: Burish, Galiardi, Sheppard.

Now I’m not a fan of Galiardi and Burish isn’t much better in my mind. But those 3 guys together — they seem to work. A 4th line that I’m comfortable putting out there at any point. Well, almost any point. The talent my not be all that great, but they work well together and that’s what matters most.

3rd line: Couture, Wingels, Desijardins.

Yeah it was only a couple shifts vs ANA, but they were good. Very good. Including a goal. First Desi had the flu and then Wingels went crashing into the boards and has been out, so its not like these 3 have had much of a chance to be a group. But when Wingels returns, get those guys together

1st and 2nd lines are actually more complicated. Jumbo can still make the pass that leads to a quick shot and a goal. Couture has buried one of those in each of the last 2 games. The guy that has the quick shot that I’d like to see with Jumbo? Brent Burns. Best on the team with that shot of his. Of course, he also needs to get healthy and I’m not sure what that entails. But I think that has a lot of potential. Plus those two guys can both skate well, cover a lot of ground effectively and are a size matchup challenge.

Which leaves me 4 F for the rest of the spots. Marleau, Pavs, Havlat, Clowe, Kennedy, Gomez, Handzus. Lot of cap $$ in that group.

I’m tempted to run Kennedy out with Jumbo and Burns — he’s got that sneaky-ness and a nose for the net that I think would be an asset when teams are paying attention the big guys.

Leaving a 2nd line of Pavs, Marleau and … ? Clowe, Havlat, Zeus, Gomez. I think I go with Clowe — much to my surprise. We can use his physical presence. But I’m open to the other guys instead of Clowe.

Its an odd group. Sitting Havlat, Handzus and Gomez. A year ago, that was about $15mil in payroll for those 3.

So it ends up looking like this:

2nd line: Pavs, Marleau, Clowe — though I could be talked into Havlat over Clowe.

1st line: Thornton, Burns, Kennedy — when Burns returns

Until Burns is back, I think I’d go Thornton Marleau and Pavs on the top line. Leaving 3 of the 5 — Havlat, Zeus, Kennedy, Gomez and Clowe as my 3rd line options — I’d make the Couture line the 2nd line.

TMc is still juggling guys, but at some point, he simply has to play the lines that work. If he wants to keep his job, that is.